# Mazda MX-5 Miata

42 Hacker News commenters recommended Mazda MX-5 Miata and 4 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 10 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** People recommend it as a cheap, fun-to-drive car that turns ordinary trips into an experience, though critics say it is not powerful or fast.

## Why people recommend it

- Fun to drive at legal speeds (6 comments): "So many people swear by Miata! Not powerful, not fast, but a blast to drive !" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50322223)) "My Miata is 90% of the fun 100% of the time, at (mostly!) legal speeds" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47987478)) "it's much more fun to drive a 'slow car fast' than a fast car slow" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47980726))
- Cheap, enjoyable driving (3 comments): "as a former Miata owner I know that expensive cars tend to just be more fun to drive" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47980508)) "It’s a terrific car if you want a great handling convertible at a low price point." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49636455)) "You don't have to go expensive to buy something you actually enjoy driving." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47976733))
- Owners keep them and love them (3 comments): "I've been campaigning the car for about a decade though, fantastic machine." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50065092)) "unreasonably in love with my (at this point classic status) little car" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47988360)) "which I still have, mostly maintain myself, and will never sell" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46239899))
- Makes everyday drives feel special (2 comments): "goddamn does dropping the roof and pulling out of the driveway put a silly smile onto my face every single time" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47985138)) "Its turned boring trips to the store into an experience." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48927944))

## What people warn about

- Low power, lacks acceleration (2 comments): "Probably the best, most enjoyable ride I've had. But not dripping with horsepower" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46155360)) "the miata was a fun car but really lacked acceleration" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46544146))
- Small and not very comfortable (2 comments): "a Mazda Miata is probably too small for a lot of people" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46294102)) "I've never felt comfort in a Miata haha" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46063656))
- Connected features restrict and track (2 comments): "disables it while in motion (which sucks badly, and I just learned there’s a hack to fix)" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48784231)) "sends a bunch of data to Mazda on ignition off" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46098081))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Toyota GR Corolla](https://hackerapproved.com/p/toyota-gr-corolla.md): 25 recommend
- [Porsche 911](https://hackerapproved.com/p/porsche-911.md): 21 recommend
- [Chevrolet Corvette](https://hackerapproved.com/p/chevrolet-corvette.md): 10 recommend
- [Volkswagen GTI](https://hackerapproved.com/p/volkswagen-gti.md): 7 recommend
- [McMurtry Spéirling](https://hackerapproved.com/p/mcmurtry-sp-irling.md): 6 recommend

## Where to get it

- [Visit the official site](https://www.mazdausa.com/)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Mazda MX-5 Miata", https://hackerapproved.com/p/mazda-miata/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).